Post #3 of mud action photography from the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo (June 02-04, 2023).
The mud threw of the timing on the roping and timed events, that is fur sure. Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023)
A lot of mud sprays on Sunday afternoon. Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023)
They were getting muddy while riding. Stepping off just made it worse. Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023)
This bull didn’t want company while he played. Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023)
The 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo will likely always be remembered by any who were involved are attended as the wettest and muddiest rodeo in its history. Photographing it was a great experience, but I was only able to submit just a fraction of my photos for publication. I thought I would work on some of my favorite “mud shots” from the weekend and post them here. I hope you enjoy.
Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023) — Like adjusting his hat was going to make any difference!
Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023) — I liked how the mud splashed up in the form of a solid shield.
Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023) — Look how contained this cowboy seems to be underneath the fury of horse, water and mud.
Rodeo in the rain and mud on Sunday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. (June 04, 2023) — The area close to the bucking chutes was nearly a pond.
I will keep posting more. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Who says cowboys aren’t civilized? It was “Free Spa Day” on Sunday afternoon (June 04) at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. That meant all the cowboys lucky enough to be bucked off received a free mud bath and facial, courtesy of the nearly three days of constant rain throughout the weekend’s rodeo performances (June 02-04), along with the well-above-average level of spring rain the area received in the weeks leading up to the rodeo.
While the so-called “spa day” may have been a purely spontaneous promotion, this saddle bronc cowboy looked to be all-in on the mud bath option! Image copyright Lincoln Rogers, 2023 – All rights reserved.
It was not only entertaining, but it was beneficial. After all, the rodeo road can be rough on a cowboy’s skin. You have to take care of it.
One of the reasons I love covering the sport of rodeo so much is the toughness and competitiveness of the rodeo athletes. While some major professional sports athletes will sit on the sidelines with finger issues (I’m looking at you Major League Baseball), rodeo participants will compete with aches and pains AND rain or shine.
Image copyright Lincoln Rogers, 2023 – All rights reserved.
Although it rained all weekend long and left Sunday afternoon’s competitors to run in the sloppiest conditions, Nebraska tie down roper Riley Pruitt ignored it all to power through the rain coming down and the mud coming up for a successful defense of his 2022 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo title (June 04, 2023). On top of earning back-to-back titles, Pruitt’s soggy win run was cheered by stands still filled with die-hard rodeo fans in Elizabeth, CO.
Especially at a rodeo. But it hasn’t been just a little rain this year during the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo. It has been a soaking rain nearly every day for the entire week, which is unusual for springtime in Colorado. Despite the conditions, rodeo moves ahead and the fans are still filling the stands at the award winning rodeo in Elizabeth, Colorado.
Keenesburg, Colorado steer wrestler Gage Hess ran a successful 7.6-second time in rainy conditions on Saturday night at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. The time has him currently sitting in 6th place. Image copyright Lincoln Rogers, 2023 – All rights reserved.
The last performance is this afternoon. Stay dry out there!
It was a rain-soaked Saturday at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede, so maybe that was the explanation for all the splashy action inside the arena. From mud-slogged bull rides to record setting bareback action, the popular rodeo had it all.
Rodeo bareback riding phenom Rocker Steiner continued to build his reputation with this high-flying 89.50 point ride aboard Hillbilly on a wet Saturday night at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO (June 03). The score set a new arena record at the award winning venue. Image copyright Lincoln Rogers, 2023 – All rights reserved.
Saturday afternoon had the most rain of the day’s rodeo action, and the bull riding really kicked up the water.
Cole Skender successfully rode War Zone through the water and mud on a rain-filled Saturday afternoon at the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. Image copyright Lincoln Rogers, 2023 – All rights reserved.
There is more action coming for Sunday afternoon’s Red, White and Blue Rodeo, and the forecast looks like more rain. My rain gear is getting prepped again…
The 2023 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo kicked off its action with a Friday Night Chute Out on June 02, 2023. After the rain stopped pouring about 30 minutes before the rodeo began, the stands filled and bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding action took over.
Keenan Hayes’ 88 point ride took home the top Bareback spot in 2023’s Friday Night Chute Out at the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO.
The rain is pouring again here on Saturday morning and it does not look like it will stop anytime soon, so photography is going to be interesting for today’s afternoon and night rodeos! I have my rain gear on hand…
A buddy of mine visited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo several weeks ago and brought me back a very cool, retro National Western Stock Show (NWSS) poster that he found while he was there. I have never seen one like this in all the years of going to the stock show here in Denver. I had to get a great NWSS poster from someone who purchased it down at the Houston Livestock Show!
I was able to purchase an inexpensive frame for it at a local craft store and now it is up on my office wall. I like it! Still can’t believe it had to make its way to my wall from Houston…
My article and photos on the championship round of rodeo at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO have been published on The Fence Post’s website, and should be in their upcoming print edition. It was a great, high-energy championship round with good story lines. I hope you enjoy the story and photos — https://www.thefencepost.com/news/roping-riding-and-roughstock/
Texas barrel racer Jimmie Smith and 10-year-old “A Valiant Nicky” spun a lightning quick first barrel on their way to a 14.83-second time in the January 22nd championship round to win the 2023 NWSS rodeo. – Image by Lincoln Rogers, 2023
I’m still working on a few more stories from the NWSS and will post them when they are published!
23-year-old Utah cowboy Stetson Wright has taken the rodeo world by storm after getting his feet wet in his 2018 rookie year. All he has done since those rookie days is earn a total of 7 PRCA world titles (4 All Around Titles, 2 Bull Riding Titles, and 1 Saddle Bronc Title) from 2019-2022. While piling up wins throughout those years, Wright had yet to win a buckle at the historic National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO.
Utah cowboy Stetson Wright was introduced to the 2023 National Western Stock Show crowd before the start of championship round rodeo action at the historic Denver, CO event. (January 22, 2023) Image by Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.
Taking care of that oversight, Wright added a coveted NWSS buckle in 2023 when he won the saddle bronc title and almost picked up a two-fer when he came just one-point shy of the bull riding title after posting an impressive 90 points on a bull named Centerfold (Cervi Championship Rodeo Company).
It has been a treat to watch Stetson compete over the last several years – and take some cool photos of his rides – and he did not disappoint this year in the championship round of rodeo at the NWSS.
I’ll be working on some NWSS articles and photos from the championship round for publication in the near future!